BOARDROOM SHOWDOWN
477 Words
The high-rise boardroom of Vance Global was heavy with tension. Table lamps gleamed off polished mahogany, and the board members sat in uncomfortable silence, stealing nervous glances at the empty head chair.
Ethan burst through the double glass doors, his tie slightly undone and his jaw set in a hard line. Victoria trailed right behind him, looking anxious.
"Where is she?" Ethan demanded, slamming his leather portfolio onto the table. "Where is Blackwood’s new representative?"
"Right here, Ethan," a smooth, cultured voice replied from the far end of the room.
The tall leather executive chair slowly turned around. I sat back comfortably, wearing a sharp, tailored ivory suit that contrasted sharply with my dark hair. Sitting right beside me, looking calm and entirely in control, was Lucian Blackwood.
Ethan froze, his eyes darting between Lucian and me. "Lucian... What kind of sick game is this? How did you get your hands on forty percent of my company's voting stock?"
"It wasn't hard," Lucian said, taking a sip from a porcelain teacup. "Several of your major investors were... deeply concerned by your recent public behavior. When a CEO publicly rejects his true mate and displays terrible judgment, stockholders lose confidence. I simply offered them a generous buyout."
"You used her?" Ethan pointed an aggressive finger at me. "She’s a nobody! She doesn't know the first thing about corporate management!"
I slowly stood up, placing both hands flat on the mahogany table and leaning forward. My wolf’s aura flickered beneath the surface, pressing heavily into the room. Several older board members shifted uncomfortably, feeling the sheer weight of my presence.
"I spent five years handling your logistics, organizing your pack accounts, and fixing your administrative blunders while you took all the credit, Ethan," I said, my voice ice-cold and steady. "I know this company better than you do. And as forty percent owner, my first official action is to launch a full audit of your personal expenses."
Victoria gasped, clutching Ethan's arm. "Ethan, do something! She can't do this!"
"Shut up, Victoria!" Ethan snapped, stress cracking through his composure. He turned back to me, his gray eyes flashing with a mix of fury and something that looked suspiciously like regret. "Maya... we can talk about this privately. You don't have to team up with my biggest rival just to get back at me."
"This isn't about getting back at you, Ethan," I replied, a cold smile touching my lips as I gathered my papers. "This is business. And as of today, nothing in this company happens without my approval."
Lucian stood up beside me, placing a warm, protective hand on the small of my back. The gesture was deliberate, calculated, and sent a visible shockwave of jealousy right through Ethan’s expression.
"Have a productive day, Mr. Vance," Lucian said smoothly. "We'll be seeing a lot more of each other."
- Writer
